Gardening

Through effective gardening you can also benefit the environment:

Do not use chemicals unnecessarily. The process of making chemicals is damaging. When you use chemicals, they can get washed into watercourses. Throwing the packaging away puts chemicals into landfill sites, which may also be illegal. So think about whether you really need to use fertilisers or pesticides

Compost all your garden and kitchen vegetable waste. This not only provides a natural fertiliser and soil conditioner but also reduces the amount of waste produced. Remember to dispose of garden waste in your green bin. Find out more about home composting

Fit a water butt to the down pipe on your house to collect rainwater. Use this water for watering the garden. It is better for your plants and better for the environment

Make space for wildlife. Grow flowers obtained from reputable garden centres. Leave areas to grow a little wild at the back of your garden. Fit bird and bat boxes and even bee shelters

Harness the power of the sun by using solar power. Use solar powered pumps for water features and solar powered lights to improve ambience

Do not use peat. Peat comes from fragile wild habitats. Instead of using peat, use compost or other soil conditioners.

Look for the FSC logo when buying timber products. Ensure your garden furniture is not made using tropical hardwoods.